Saturday, October 29, 2011

Amy Winehouse was five times the drink-drive limit

A coroner in London heard she hit the bottle after being dry for three weeks.
Amy's doctor also revealed the 27-year-old said she did not know if she was going to stop drinking but "she did not want to die" the night before she tragically passed away.
Police discovered two large and a small bottle of vodka after the star's body was found at her ?2.3million home.
Recording a verdict of misadventure, St Pancras Coroner Suzanne Greenway said the singer had 416mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The driving limit is 80mg.
Ms Greenway said: "She had consumed sufficient alcohol at 416mg per decilitre (of blood) and the unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden and unexpected death."
A post-mortem had found that Amy's vital organs were healthy and showed no traces of illegal drugs.
But the Back To Black star had huge amounts of alcohol in her system that could have stopped her breathing and sent her into a coma.
The inquest also heard how Amy had not touched a drop in the weeks leading up to Friday July 22. The next day she was found dead in her home in Camden, North London.
The pathologist who conducted the post-mortem said at 200mg per decilitre (of blood), someone would lose control of their reflexes and 350mg was considered a fatal level.
Amy's GP, Dr Christina Romete, who had been treating the star for several years, said she had warned her about the dangers of drink.
The doctor, who described the singer as tipsy but coherent the night before she died, said she had been headstrong about the ways she should deal with her drink battle.
She said: "The advice I had given to Amy over a long period of time was verbal and in written form about all the effects alcohol can have on the system, including respiratory depression and death, heart problems, fertility problems and liver problems."
Amy, who was taking medication to cope with alcohol withdrawal and anxiety, was reviewed last year by a psychologist and psychiatrist about her drinking.
Dr Romete said: "She had her own way and was very determined to do everything her own way.
"Including any form of therapy. She had very strict views."
The doctor was asked if she was satisfied her patient fully understood the risks of continuing to drink. "Yes," she answered.
She said: "During the period of July she was abstinent but started drinking alcohol on July 20 - it was confirmed to me by her security guard."
But Dr Romete added: "She was looking forward to the future."
Andrew Morris, the musician's live-in security guard, said he last spoke to her at 2am on the day she died.
Amy had been heard in her bedroom laughing, listening to music and watching television the night before.
Mr Morris said he checked in on her at 10am on July 23 but did not talk to her and thought she was asleep so left her.
It was usual for her to lie in, he said. But at 3pm he checked again.
Reliving the moment he discovered her body, he said: "When I went in the room she was lying on the bed in the same position from 10am.
"I was immediately concerned, went over and checked to see if she was OK.
"I checked on her and realised she wasn't breathing and had no pulse so called the emergency services."
Amy, who won five Grammy awards in 2008, was pronounced dead soon after by paramedics.
The bodyguard, who described Amy as "her usual lively self" the week before her death, said she had "big plans" that weekend.
The Rehab singer's parents Mitch and Janis were at the hearing to hear the verdict.
Previously cabbie Mitch, 60, had told how his daughter had made a "fantastic recovery" from drug addiction and had not drunk booze for three weeks.
Since Amy's death Mitch has been setting up the Amy Winehouse Foundation with her management and record label.
He said: "We have been working with a group called Concordiat and we are going to take people in recovery into schools to speak about alcohol and drug issues. Who better to talk to kids than the people who have been there and done it?"
MISADVENTURE verdict recorded at inquest into Amy Winehouse’s death
The Foundation has made its first three ?10,000 donations to charities close to Amy ? children's hospices Littlehaven's in Essex and Chestnut Tree House in Sussex, plus Hopes And Dreams, which gives holidays to sick children.
The star's family issued a statement today saying: "It is some relief to finally find out what happened to Amy.
"We understand there was alcohol in her system when she passed away - it is likely a build-up of alcohol in her system over a number of days.
"The court heard that Amy was battling hard to conquer her problems with alcohol and it is a source of great pain to us that she could not win in time.
"She had started drinking again that week after a period of abstinence.
"It underlines how important our work with the Amy Winehouse Foundation is to us, to help as many young people and children as we can in her name.

"It means a lot to us and, from the overwhelming messages of support we have had since Amy died, we know she meant a great deal to people all over the world.
"We want to thank everyone for that and for their continuing enthusiasm for the foundation."
Meanwhile, the tragic star's close pal Kelly Osbourne hit out at a fake Amy Winehouse for sending her a cruel Twitter message. It said: "Miss ya darling! x".
Other sick tweets included: "I'm alive and I am well. I'm just not here (with you), not so swell. But I watch over you above in the sky so blue. Miss ya daddy. love ya too x."
Kelly replied: "That's not f***ing funny. You should be ashamed."